Near Chidester in Ouachita County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Engagement at Poison Springs

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 25, 2022

1. Engagement at Poison Springs Marker

Inscription. Here on April 18, 1864 a Union forage train of 200 wagons escorted by 1170 men was attacked and captured by Confederate troops commanded by Generals John S. Marmaduke and Samuel B. Maxey. The wagons were loaded with corn for the Union army of General Frederick Steele encamped at Camden. Loss of these supplies helped to hasten Steele's retreat to his base in Little Rock. The Union loss at Poison Springs was 301 men killed, wounded and missing. Confederate casualties totaled 114 men.

Erected 1964 by Arkansas Civil War Centennial Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 18, 1864.

Location. 33° 38.347′ N, 93° 0.271′ W. Marker is near Chidester, Arkansas, in Ouachita County. It is on Arkansas Route 76 1.2 miles west of County Road 100, on the right when traveling west. Located in Poison Springs Battleground State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 665 Hwy 76, Chidester AR 71726, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Gulf Coastal Plain,

in Caddo Territory,

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and in the Quapaw Homeland.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Federal Forage Party Departs Camden April 17, 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Kansas (within shouting distance of this marker); The Civil War Battle of Poison Spring - April 18, 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederate and Federal Forces Engage (within shouting distance of this marker); Forage Party Routed! (within shouting distance of this marker); Order of Battle (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Poison Springs. (within shouting distance of this marker); Ouachita County Poison Springs Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of

View of marker in park, towards pavilion with additional markers. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 25, 2022

2. View of marker in park, towards pavilion with additional markers.

all markers in Chidester.

Also see . . . Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Engagement at Poison Spring. Part of the Camden Expedition. (Submitted on June 26, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Left to right - Generals Marmaduke/Maxey/Steele image. Click for full size.

Public domain

3. Left to right - Generals Marmaduke/Maxey/Steele

Entrance at Poison Springs Battleground State Park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 25, 2022

4. Entrance at Poison Springs Battleground State Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2022. This page has been viewed 338 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on March 10, 2024. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 26, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.